Healthier Students are Better Learners: Identifying and reducing Educationally Relevant Health Disparities Kellie Carroll,M.Ed Kim Guinn, RN MS Coordinated School Health

Dr. Charles Basch A professor at the Nation’s oldest graduate school of education, Teachers College, Columbia University. His work was sponsored by the Campaign for Educational Equity, an initiative solely focused on exploring innovative approaches to reducing the educational gap.

Strategies to Close the Educational Achievement Gap  Standards and accountability  Revising school financing  Teacher preparation  Rigorous curricula  Charter schools  Reducing educationally relevant health disparities

HEALTH EDUCATION SOCIAL SERVICES Our Children Are Ill Served by the Silo Approach

Reciprocal Relationships HealthEducation Poverty

Healthier Students are Better Learners Focus is on … School-age youth Health problems that can be feasibly and effectively addressed by schools

Healthier Students are Better Learners 1: Health Factors that Affect Educational Outcomes Prevalence and Disparities Causal Pathways What Schools Can Do

Healthier Students are Better Learners 1: Health Factors that Affect Educational Outcomes Prevalence and Disparities Causal Pathways What Schools Can Do

– Extent of health disparities – Causal effects on educational outcomes – Feasibility of school-based programs and policies Criteria for Selecting Strategic Priorities

Educationally Relevant Health Factors 1) Vision 2) Asthma 3) Teen pregnancy 4) Aggression and violence 5) Physical activity 6) Breakfast 7) ADHD

Healthier Students are Better Learners 1: Health Factors that Affect Educational Outcomes Prevalence and Disparities Causal Pathways What Schools Can Do

High Prevalence Visual problems: ~20% of youth Asthma: ~14% of youth <18 (9.9mil.) Teen pregnancy: 1 in 3 teens Violence: 28% of adolescents bullied at school Physical activity: ~2 in 3 don’t get enough Breakfast: ~20% of youth skip it Hyperactivity: ~8% of youth 6-17 diagnosed (4.6 mil.)

Healthier Students are Better Learners 1: Health Factors that Affect Educational Outcomes Prevalence and Disparities Causal Pathways What Schools Can Do

Causal Pathways 1) sensory perceptions 2) cognition 3) school connectedness and engagement 4) absenteeism 5) temporary or permanent dropping out

Examples of how the 7 Health Disparities effect Causal Pathways and Educational Outcomes

Visual Problems Inattention & Hyperactivity Sensory Perceptions Educational Outcomes

Visual Problems Asthma Aggression & Violence Physical Activity Breakfast Inattention & Hyperactivity Cognition Educational Outcomes

Visual Problems Asthma Aggression & Violence Physical Activity Inattention & Hyperactivity Connectedness Educational Outcomes

Asthma Aggression & Violence Physical Activity Breakfast Inattention & Hyperactivity Absenteeism Educational Outcomes

Teen Pregnancy Inattention & Hyperactivity Dropping Out of School Educational Outcomes

Health Disparities Connection to Academic Indicators Academic Indicators Discipline Grades Absenteeism Truancy Drop-out School Climate Graduation Rates Health Disparities Vision Asthma Teen Pregnancy Aggression and Violence Physical Activity Breakfast Inattention and Hyperactivity

Healthier Students are Better Learners 1: Health Factors that Affect Educational Outcomes Prevalence and Disparities Causal Pathways What Schools Can Do

What Can Schools Do? Visual Problems: – Vision screening – Outreach to parents and teachers – On-site provision of services Asthma: – Case management – Elimination of environmental triggers – Education for students with asthma – Safe opportunities for physical activity

What Can Schools Do? Teen Pregnancy: – Effective, skills-based sex education – Social and emotional learning – Respect privacy while providing Health and social services for teen moms

What Can Schools Do? Aggression and Violence: – Supportive social climate – Safe physical environment – Effective, skills-based health education – Social and emotional learning – Counseling, psychological, and social services

What Can Schools Do? Physical Activity: – Standards-based physical education – Recess and in-class movement – Intramural and after-school programs – Support for walking and biking to school Breakfast: – Universal school breakfast program – Allowing students to eat in classroom

What Can Schools Do? Inattention and Hyperactivity: – Assessment, evaluation, diagnosing, and monitoring – Organize classrooms to minimize distractions – Improving teacher-student relationship – Behavioral interventions – Academic interventions – Outreach and partnership with parents

An Academic Imperative If…

Healthier Students are Better Learners: Kellie Carroll, M. Ed Kim Guinn, RN MS